How to Start a Publishing Company in 8 Easy Steps

India has become a hotspot for publishers due to the substantial and steady growth in books and other print media. But, when thinking of how to start a publishing company, you may have several questions in your mind, such as:

 

• What is the minimum investment to start a publishing company?
• Where you should set up your publishing company? 
• What are the legal framework and regulations governing the industry?
• Who is your target audience?
• How to create an effective marketing strategy to reach them?
• What will be your distribution network? 
• What are the ways to build relationships with authors and bookstores so that you can get your books out into the market? 

 

With careful planning and execution, starting a publishing company can be both profitable and rewarding.

 

Let us take you through the process of setting up your publishing company - from laying the groundwork to getting everything set up and ready for launch.

 

Steps to Start a Publishing Company

 

Step 1 - Choose a Niche

 

To start off, you should determine what you are into. Narrow down the scope of content that you want to publish, such as:

 

• Story Books/ Educational Books
• Novels
• Magazines
• Manuals 
• Newspapers 
• Fiction or Nonfiction Book  
• Children’s Books 
• Religious Books
• Indie Content
• Self-help Books

 

For your business to be successful, it is important to pick a niche with potential for growth which isn't already flooded with competition.

 

Additionally, research what other publishing companies in India are doing to get an idea of what works best for them and how you can differentiate yourself from them.

 

For example, Arihant Books focuses on the student niche and publishes books related to competitive exams and school academics. 

 

The educational publishing market has already been heavily dominated by Arihant Books as they have partnered with several educational organizations.

 

Accordingly, here are some niches which have a lot of potential for good quality and easy-to-understand content:

 

• Finance and Investing
• Cryptocurrency and Blockchain
• Video Scripts
• Sustainable Living
• Travel
• Business

 

These niches are all relatively untapped as compared to others. 

 

Therefore, by providing quality content that meets the needs of the readers, you can build a loyal following of readers who will keep coming back for more.

 

Step 2 - Create a Business Plan

 

Creating a business plan for a publishing company will help you set the goals of your business and develop strategies to achieve them. 

 

Therefore, include detailed information about your market, competitors, financials and operations in your plan.

 

Additionally, include an analysis of the risks associated with launching a publishing company and strategies to mitigate them or a PLAN B.

 

For example, you are planning to publish books related to "Sustainable Living". 

 

• If the books do not sell, implement your sales strategy. 
• If no one knows about your books, implement your marketing strategy.
• If you do not have enough funds, use your financial planning.
• If someone tries to steal your content, make sure your company is registered legally and you have the copyright of the content.

 

A business plan is essential in times of uncertainty. It serves as a roadmap for navigating through challenging times.

 

Step 3 - Name Your Business and Register

 

Naming your business is a crucial step in the process of registering a publishing company. 

 

Therefore, it must be easy to pronounce, memorable and reflect the purpose of your business. 

 

Here are some unique name ideas for a publishing company that you can use:

 

1. InkPaper 
2. Pensive 
3. Foliam 
4. Finewrite
5. Echoink
6. Pengrads
7. FounPen
8. ThirdColoumn
9. PaperTale
10. Penfort

 

Additionally, ensure that the name is not already taken by another company or trademarked by someone else.

 

It’s not only important to choose the right name, but also to make sure that it is legally registered and protected.

 

For this purpose, get in touch with our experts and they will help you to register your publishing company online.

 

Though there are multiple business structures, but Private Limited Company Registration Online is the most popular structure for setting up a publishing business. 

 

It has several advantages like limited liability and easy scalability that can help your publishing company to expand and market easily.

 

Step 4 - Open Business Bank Account and Gather Funds

 

Once you receive the Company Incorporation Certificate, open a business bank account and deposit your initial investment in it.

 

You can consider HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, SBI Bank, Punjab National Bank etc to open a business bank account.

 

For starting a publishing company, you require an investment of at least Rs. 8 Lacs to Rs. 10 Lacs depending on the scope of business. 

 

This includes expenditures for renting office space, utility bills, machinery and raw materials, author royalty payments, employee salaries and marketing activities.

 

If you have already made the investment, then that's great. Otherwise, there are various other options available, such as:

 

• Angel Investors
• Venture Capitalist
• Business Loan
• Private Equity Loan
• Partnership Capital
• Borrowings from Friends or Family
• Government Schemes like Startup India Scheme

 

Step 5 - Apply for ISBN and Other Licenses

 

Applying for an ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a crucial step for any publishing company that wants to have its books listed in various online stores, libraries and databases.

 

It is a unique identifier that helps differentiate your book from other similar titles. 

 

Apart from that, you must also register for the following:

 

• GST Registration

 

If the annual turnover of a publishing company exceeds Rs. 40 Lacs (or Rs. 20 Lacs for states in the North East) then GST registration is mandatory for them. 

 

Additionally, you may also apply for voluntary registration if you wish to do so.

 

• Copyright

 

Copyright will protect your author's original work from being copied or used without permission. 

 

It will also provide legal remedies if someone does use your work without permission.

 

Step 6 - Choose Your Location 

 

In the digital age, the location of a publishing company is not as crucial to its success as it was a few decades ago. 

 

This has made it much easier for businesses to operate from any part of the world.

 

For a publishing company, approximately 600 to 800 square feet of space is enough. This area should be sufficient for setting up the publishing office, machines and storage.

 

Step 7 - Set up your Publishing Company

 

Once you have chosen the ideal spot for your publishing company, the next step is to set up the office. 

 

This includes doing all the necessary electrical fittings and setting up the machinery. 

 

To ensure smooth functioning, you should also look for dependable suppliers for printing materials that meet your requirements.

 

Step 8 - Publish your First Book and Sign Up Authors 

 

To get your business off the ground, you can use the POD (Print on Demand) strategy. 

 

This involves participating in book signing events and author's workshops to find and connect with potential authors.

 

Promote your publishing company and its offerings to potential authors. 

 

After signing up an author, publish their book and invest effort into marketing it effectively.

 

Reach out to retail stores and libraries to spread the word about your publications. You can also take advantage of the power of social media platforms to reach potential customers.